Ilera Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 20-22 June 2013: Imagining new employment relations and new solidarities.

How to get to the Netherlands

By plane

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the Netherlands largest airport and one of the most modern airports in Europe. It boasts over a hundred shops, many of which sell tax-free goods, a wide choice of restaurants, a casino, a wellness club and lounges, where young and old can relax! There’s even a museum: Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol, which has a temporary collection of old masters, that changes every six months.
Schiphol airport has got direct connections to and from over 300 international destinations every day by 313 airlines. It is an award winning airport with 5 main runways and 97 gates. It is seen as one of the biggest gateways to Europe.

The distance from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam city centre is 20 km.

Trains run often directly from Schiphol to Amsterdam Central Station. The journey takes about 15 minutes. See below for more information.

Taxis are also available. The journey to Amsterdam costs approximately EUR 50 and takes 20 minutes. See below for more information

Travelling further to Amsterdam by train?
Schiphol station is situated directly below the airport. You can pick up a free baggage trolley from the platform. Via Schiphol Plaza, you can walk straight to the departure or arrival hall.

Train tickets for domestic travel are available from the yellow ticket machines near the platforms at Schiphol Plaza. Tickets (for domestic and international travel) are also available from the ticket offices, which are situated close to the red/white-checked cube at Schiphol Plaza. Staff at the ticket offices will also be able to provide you with train departure information.
See for more information: www.ns.nl

Travelling further to Amsterdam by taxi?
Travel in comfort from Schiphol to your destination by Schiphol Travel Taxi. There are three possibilities:

Combined travel (If you choose combined transportation other people may travel with you to the airport. The taxi will stop at different addresses to pick up other clients.)

Private travel (You will travel straight to the airport with a comfortable car or taxi van without any stops. At Schiphol you will not have to wait longer than 30 minutes on your taxi.)

Schiphol Business Taxi (Book a taxi now to avoid waiting times and ensure comfortable business travel in a luxury vehicle throughout the Netherlands.)

Rules & Regulations

Before traveling to the Netherlands, it’s wise to check the rules and regulations of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Everything you need to know about hand luggage, liquids, gels, maximum baggage weight, travelers from non EU countries and more is available at Schiphol online.

How to find the best flights

Use a flight comparison tool to find the best connections and the best value flights to the Netherlands. You'll be able to filter your results by months and find out when is the cheapest time of the year to book your flights to Amsterdam or any other airport in the Netherlands.

By train

The Netherlands is easily accessible by high speed train from various European cities. The Eurostar from London or the Thalys from Paris will get you to Amsterdam quickly and comfortably. You can book your tickets online, by telephone or through your local travel agent.
International trains in the Netherlands:

Fyra

Thalys

ICE international

Eurostar

TGV

More information on international trains and possibilities for you to get to the Netherlands by train can be found on the website: www.nshispeed.nl

By car

The Netherlands is very well suited for car travel. The roads are well-maintained and the road markings and signpost make it easy to find your way around. From Amsterdam, you can reach most cities like Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague, Delft and Leiden within an hour’s drive. Groningen and Maastricht take about two hours. The Netherlands only has two toll roads; the tunnels ‘Westerscheldetunnel’ and ‘Dordse Kil’.

Fuel

Cars in the Netherlands run on gasoline or diesel. The pumps at the petrol stations indicate which type of fuel they contain. Some cars in the Netherlands run on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Most gas stations are open 7 days a week and sell diesel, gasoline and, in most cases, LPG. Do bare in mind that fuel is expensive in the Netherlands. Gasoline can cost up to €1,70 per liter. See also for more information the Costs section.

Maximum Speed

The maximum speed on the national motorways lies between 130 or 100 kilometers an hour. Within the urban areas, speed limits are set at 50 kilometers an hour and, in some cases, 80 kilometers an hour.

Speed Penalties

There are many speed cameras and other traffic control devices in the Netherlands. The penalties for speeding, using your mobile phone while driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving through a red light can easily run up to a few hundred Euros.

By ferry

The Netherlands is located on the North Sea and can easily be reached by sea. Direct ferry services run from a range of towns in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Scandinavia to the ports of ‘Hoek van Holland’ (Hook of Holland) and ‘IJmuiden’. Hook of Holland is close to Rotterdam, while IJmuiden is a thirty minute drive away from Amsterdam.